Then, ATI's new releases only worked if we used 128MB of shared/system/UMA memory along with the 128MB of onboard video
memory many of these laptop models have.

Now, after installing Ubuntu 6.0.6 kernel 2.6.15, the ATI driver will only work with full DRI and 3D support if I
totally disable the 128MB of onboard video memory and use ONLY shared/system/UMA memory( 128MB )....

Now, with my fully functioning Ubuntu 5.0.4 installation, when I go from only Sideport to only UMA, the glxgears
output goes from ~1200fps to ~500fps

With the new kernel and Xorg server of Ubuntu 6.0.6 running only UMA video memory and the 5.0.4 version of glxgears,
output from that program is ~800fps. Still a 30% decrease in performance from using the 128MB of onboard/Sideport
video memory.

IMO, running like this is not a fix but a crippled hack and it would be really nice if HP/Compaq or ATI would tell us
what the problem is, why it exists, how it is to be fixed. So try just 128M of UMA in your BIOS and see if that enables
you to get DRI/Direct Rendering working with the ATI/fglrx driver.

OK - I noticed that the wiki had been updated to reflect the 8.26.18 release but the line relating to the Xpress 200M card not functioning with the 8.25.18 drivers was unchanged. Can someone confirm if the 8.26.18 drivers work with the 200M card or not?

Also effected my xpress 200m on 64bit hp pavillion. changing to fglrx and using the guide worked. but only at 128mb uma. this could be a problem for a few people and could be mentiblem with the Modelines configuration in xorg driving the TFT display out of sync. Try a lower resolution (say 1024x768, 800x600, 640x480); if it doesn't work try defining a manual modeline for the resolution you are trying. Good luck and keep posting! :-)